UTSA student, San Antonio native wins Miss Texas USA 2019

"This dream I have had for so long and I cannot believe that this is real life," Alayah Benavidez captioned a photo of her crowning moment. "I am so so thrilled to be able to represent Texas at @missusa!!"

"This dream I have had for so long and I cannot believe that this is real life," Alayah Benavidez captioned a photo of her crowning moment. "I am so so thrilled to be able to represent Texas at @missusa!!"

Photo: Instagram Screengrab

Photo: Instagram Screengrab

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"This dream I have had for so long and I cannot believe that this is real life," Alayah Benavidez captioned a photo of her crowning moment. "I am so so thrilled to be able to represent Texas at @missusa!!"

"This dream I have had for so long and I cannot believe that this is real life," Alayah Benavidez captioned a photo of her crowning moment. "I am so so thrilled to be able to represent Texas at @missusa!!"

The 23-year-old University of Texas-San Antonio student won the title, which is part of the Miss USA franchise, over the weekend. She will go on to represent the state at the Miss USA pageant. That title-winner will compete on the Miss Universe stage.

This is the O'Connor High School graduate's second opportunity to represent the Lone Star State on the national stage — she won Miss Texas United States, a separate pageant circuit, in 2016 when she was 20 years old.